Cut-off and fluid distributing valve coupling



Get. 20, 1936. WAGQNER 2,058,276

CUT-OFF AND FLUID DISTRIBUTING VALVE COUPLING Filed Jan. 7, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 and g Home} Oct. 20, 1936. F. WAGONER 7 5 5 CUT-OFF AND FLUID DISTRIBUTING VALVE :COUPLING Filed Jan. 7, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented ct. 26, 1936 UNITED- STATEVSQPATENT OFFICE cur-err AND FLUID DISTRIBUTING VALVE oourmvo Ford Wagoner, St. Francisville, 111.

Application January 7, 1936, Serial No. 58,012 2 Claims. (Cl- 166-45) delivery or take-off line with the casing head, and I this line includes means for coupling it to the tubing head, a selectively usable bleeding valve for test purposes, a separate individually controllable cut-oil valve leading to the main delivery line, and a series of fittings and couplings making up the intake portion of the line.

The present invention has to do with an ar- 2o rangement calculated to permit effective control to be had through the instrumentality of a unique unit possessing the consolidated function of a pipe coupling, and'a three-way valve, 'whereby to divert the flow from the tubing into themain delivery line; to bleed the oil for test purposes, or to cut ofi the fiow entirely.

More specifically indicated, however, the chief features which serve to distinguish this important improvement have to do with the special valve associated therewith, and a simple lockwherein like numerals are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the views:

Figure l is an elevational view showing the well tubing, casing head, delivery pipe line, and the intervening multiple purpose unit constituting the essence of the .invention hereinafter claimed.

Figure 2 is a view, on an enlarged scale, showing this multiple purpose unit, primarily in section, and partly in elevation.

Figure ,3 is a view similar to Figure 2 emphasizing the utility in its special make-up.

Figure 4 is' a ver'tical sectional view showing 55 Figure 6 is a perspective view of the same part.

construction of the valve casing, the rotary plug the manner in which the unit serves as a fluid Figure 7 is ure 5.

a section on the line 1-1 of Fig- Figure 8 is a perspective view of the detachable wedgev type valve-operating'and locking handle or lever.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings it will be observed that the conventional'oil well casing, projecting above the ground, is, denoted by the numeral 9. The casing head Ill includes appropriate fittings to accommodate the lead-off nipple ll extending from the well tubing Ila, the latter of which extends into the casing 9 and through the casing head Hi. The delivery or take-off line isdenoted as a unitby the numeral II. This will obviously vary in construction. As a general rule it includes a depending pipe l3 connected by T-couplings I4 and ii to the submerged ground pipe 5 which serves to carry off the oil to a storage tank (not shown) or other place of use. Ordinarily in the more complicated arrangement with which I am familiar, there is a cut-off valve in the pipe I3, associated pipe sections joined by a union, said pipe sections being joined to thenipple II by an extra T-coupling. Then too the T-coupling, as a general rule, is provided at its top with a hand-controlled oil test or bleed and relief valve. Hence there are some seven pieces or more at this point to complicate the assemblage and to necessitate using two separate valves. Moreover these valves sometimes are the hand controlled globe type, though the cut-ofl valve is usually of the rotary tapered plug type, that is, an ordinary one-way valve and its construction necessitates the use of a wrench or tool in opening or closing the valve. This valve is subject to leakage and inconvenient operation because of frequent breakage. In my arrangement I provide the simple multiple purpose valve and coupling unit H to take the place of these seemingiy, needless accessories or appliances.

The one-piece cast casing may be said mine of general cruciform configuration. That is to say it includes a body portion it! having a screwthreaded intake branch 19 (see Figure 2), an

plicitly described.

The branch l9 has a flared threaded end 24 .to. form a beveledseat for the flanged end 25 y the lead-oil nipple ll.

' the flange 25 and the threaded end 24.

The branch 20 is internally screw-threaded to accommodate extra piping if necessary though, as a general rule, the oil can be bled off directly through this outlet or branch 20.

Calling attention now to Figure 6 it will be observed that the hollow plug valve element is denoted by the numeral 21'. This is of general frusto-conical design and is open at its intake end as indicated at 28 in Figure 5. In one side it is provided with a restricted valve slot 29. It also includes a cylindrical trunnion or pintle 30 having a "slot 3| formed therein. This slot is adapted to accommodate the wedge key 32. One side of the key is substantially flat to bear against the abutment disk 23 as indicated in Figures 2 and 3. This valved element 21 fits into the tapered portion of the main casting,or body l8 as shown in the drawings. The trunnion 30 flts rtatably in the bearing branch 2| and extends outwardly beyond it to accommodate the control key 32.

-When the control slot 29 is in the position shown in Figure 2 this diverts the oil from the well tubing into the pipe line by way of the pipe section l3 as is evident. This provides the control" feature. When the slot is; in the upper position shown in Figure 3 this diverts the incoming oil through the branch 20 for bleeding and testing purposes. When the slot is in the off position shown in Figure 4, it functions as a cut-off as is evident. Incidentally the passage 33 shown in Figure 4 is a drain.

It is evident that the adoption and use of this simple and economical three-way valve is a revelation in this method of handling fluid from well tubing. The point of outstanding worth in the invention has to do with the hollow slotted tapered valve unit or element 21 and cooperating wedge key 32 and abutment surface 23. It is evident that by taking a hammer or the like and tapping on the bottom of the key as indicated in Figure 2, this will loosen thekey from its locked position. Then by tapping the impact end of the journal 30, this will drive the element 21 into the casing sufilciently to loosen it for easy tuming. Then it can be turned to any one of the three desired positions. When the desired position is reached, the key is again driven down into binding engagement with the abutment face 23 which draws the valve element out in its casing to a tight non-turning position. Consequently it is unnecessary, in a construction of this kind to use wrenches and makeshift tools in opening and closing the valve. It is substantially compensating in action and avoids leakage by the continual wear take-up produced .by the coaction of the wedge key 82 going through the slot 3| and bearing against the face 23.

The invention is susceptible of accomplishing numerous commercial features and advantages. It is believed unnecessary. however, to go into these since the novelty, from a structural point,

will be visualized from the succeeding claims. It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear.

understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a flowing oi well characterized by a well casing, oil tubing through which the oil flows. and a delivery pipe; the combination with the aforesaid elements of, a single valve casing having an inlet port connected with the tubing and having no less than two outlet ports, one of said outlet ports adapted for bleeding the flowing oil and the other connected with said delivery pipe, a rotary valve in the casing which in one position permits the oil to be bled, in another position allows the oil to flow into the delivery pipe, and in the third position cuts ofi the flow of oil entirely, and wedging means carried by the valve to lock the same in any desired position.

2. Means for controlling the flow of oil from the well tubing to the delivery line conductor comprising a. single valve casing formed with a continuous bore opening on each side of the casing, the walls of the casing around one end of the bore forming a smooth lip, said valve casin having an inlet port equipped with a union fitting conne'cted with the well tubing through which the oil flows into the valve bore, said valve casing further having no less than two radially disposed outlet ports spaced from each other at a distance greater than the width of either port and registering with the bore through one of which ports oil may be bled for testing purposes, the other of said outlet ports being connected with the delivery line conductor, a rotary core mounted in said bore, said core formed of an open-bottomed hollow cone valve on one end merging at the apex with a valve stem, said cone valve having the open bottom directed toward the inlet port and having an opening in the side wall in alignment with said outlet ports and being of an area limited to the size of one outlet port, said stem iournaled in the bore outwardly of the outlet ports and having a radially slotted projecting end, and a rigid wedge-shaped locking handle extending through the slot and bearing on the lip in locked relation.

. FORD WAGONER.- 

